Hundreds attend Black Power boss' funeral

Relevant offers

Hundreds of people attended the tangi of Black Power's South Island boss in Christchurch today.

Cars lined the streets surrounding Rehua Marae in St Albans where the funeral for Ardie Beazley was held.

He died in Christchurch Hospital on Tuesday last week, ''surrounded by his whanau'', according to the death notice. He was 57 and is survived by his wife and 10 children.

Beazley's son, Chance, was released from prison to attend his father's funeral and cremation.

Chance Beazley, 29, is due for sentencing after pleading guilty to snatching a 68-year-old woman's handbag.

Justice Christian Whata granted the order at a bail appeal hearing last week, where he noted that Chance Beazley had 37 previous convictions and had served 19 terms of imprisonment. However, he was seen as a moderate-to-high risk of absconding while on bail.

Gang expert Jarrod Gilbert said, like any organisation, the gang would need to elect a new president.